Valrisico

Valrisico is a Dutch term that refers to the probability that someone will fall or slip, potentially resulting in injury. It is used in healthcare to describe a patient’s risk of falling and in occupational safety to describe the risk of slipping on a surface. The risk arises from a combination of intrinsic factors, such as age, gait instability, cognitive impairment, medications, and chronic diseases, and extrinsic factors, including environmental hazards like poor lighting, uneven floors, clutter, and wet or slippery surfaces.

Assessment of valrisico aims to identify individuals at higher risk so that preventive measures can be taken. Clinicians and safety professionals consider factors such as a history of prior falls, mobility and balance, vision, orthostatic blood pressure changes, and medication burden. Several formal assessment tools and clinical judgments are used to categorize risk and tailor interventions.

Prevention of valrisico is typically multifactorial. In health care and elder care, interventions include strength and balance training, medication review to reduce sedatives and polypharmacy, environmental modifications (improved lighting, handrails, non-slip flooring), use of assistive devices, proper footwear, and vision correction. Education for patients and caregivers, staff supervision, and, when appropriate, monitoring or alarms for high-risk individuals are common components. In workplace settings, risk reduction focuses on good housekeeping, floor maintenance, slip-resistant footwear, signage, and prompt reporting and remediation of hazards.

Reducing valrisico can lower the incidence of falls and related injuries, shorten hospital stays, and reduce costs. Despite measures, falls remain a significant concern, particularly among older adults and in environments with high exposure to slippery or unstable surfaces.